Birdsong takes over as orchestra celebrates spring

Philharmonie de Paris goes all a twitter with dozens of events for children and adults

Birdsong and musicians mimicking birds will be part of a musical treat next weekend when the Philharmonie de Paris presents its Week-end des Oiseaux with concerts and activities for all ages.

There are several dozen events on at the Cité de la Musique in the 19th arrondissement in Paris and all are based on the theme of birds.

It starts on March 16 with Olivier Messiaen’s hymn to nature Des Canyons aux Etoiles and continues on the Saturday morning with the children’s concert Carnaval des Animaux by the Orchestre national d'Île-de-France and Le Nid by Theater De Spiegel.

It takes taking full flight in the afternoon with the Orchestre Pasdeloup’s Oiseaux de Feu afternoon concert of a programme including Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Messiaen’s Grive des bois.

Sunday sees instruments brought from the Musée de la Musique for the Oiseaux Baroques concert by Hugo Reyne.

Elsewhere on the site, there will be children’s musical events on the sounds of nature – some are available from the age of three – and a musical menagerie while the Philharmonie studio will have a British film on the Dawn Chorus on Sunday morning.

Sadly, none of the concerts is due to be broadcast on radio or online and many of the larger concerts are already sold out and have waiting lists. So early booking is advised for other events at on the Philharmonie de Paris website.